The Cure' of Ars and Saint Philomena
The little town of Ars, France, has become famous through
the holy life and labors of Saint John Vianney, its beloved Cure'.
And he, perhaps more than any other single individual, has brought to the
world's attention the power of his own favorite among the saints - Saint
Philomena. He was wont to call upon her for every kind of favor, and
made her, so to speak, his "miracle-proxy". He used to take refuge
under Saint Philomena's cloak, "and throw the blame on her",
as someone has said for the extraordinary miracles he himself worked. Saint
Philomena solved his financial worries; she converted sinners; she healed
malignant diseases; she worked numberless prodigies in answer to his simple
prayers. Many are recorded in the biography of the saint, but the unrecorded
ones alone would fill a volume.
It is said that the Cure' did everything for her and Saint
Philomena
did everything for him.
A person once approached the Cure' and said: "Is it true, Monsieur
le Cure', that Saint Philomena obeys you?" To which the holy priest
replied, "And why not, since every day God Himself obeys me at the
altar?" A perfect understanding existed between the Cure' and his
dear little saint, so that he constantly felt the closeness of her presence.
He addressed her by the most familiar and tender names, and spared no efforts
to induce others to invoke her intercession in their needs of body and
soul. Often he would say in his soft penetrating voice which drew all hearts
to him: "My children, Saint Philomena has great power with God, and
she has, moreover, a kind heart; let us pray to her with confidence. Her
virginity and generosity in embracing her heroic martyrdom have rendered
her so agreeable to God that He will never refuse her anything that she
asks for us." It is said that the Cure' did everything for her and
Saint Philomena did everything for him.
The Cure' first came to know of the wonderful power of
Saint Philomena through a friend of his, Pauline Jaricot, the foundress
of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and the Living Rosary,
who in 1835 had been miraculously cured of a hopeless malady through the
intercession of Saint Philomena. Miss Jaricot offered him a part of the
precious relics of the saint which she had obtained from the shrine at
Mugnano, and the Cure' received them with intense joy. At once he set to
work to have a chapel erected in his church at Ars to enshrine them. The
spot soon became the scene of innumerable cures, conversions and miracles.
Filled with intense love for the little saint, he chose
her as his special heavenly patroness, and dedicated himself to her by
vow. In season and out of season he spoke of her, and recommended novenas
to her for the countless intentions of every kind which people referred
to him. He earnestly admonished the sick to pray to Saint Philomena. He
would bless them and join them in the novena he had instructed them to
make, but always impressed on them that all cures were due to the little
saint, and that, after God, it was to her that all gratitude was owing.
Filled with intense love for the little saint, he chose
her as his special heavenly patroness, and dedicated himself to her by
vow.
Thousands of people came to the chapel of Ars on pilgrimage, for the
purpose of invoking the aid of Saint Philomena in their necessities and
trials. Tangible evidence, of the favors obtained, the miracles worked,
the conversions wrought, the prayers answered, was to be seen in the votive
offerings of every type which the grateful recipients of the favors placed
at Saint Philomena's shrine.
Due to the fervor of the Cure's devotion to Saint Philomena,
and the numerous cures and favors obtained through her intercession, all
France soon rang with her name. Every diocese had altars and chapels or
churches dedicated to her. But devotion to her was not confined to France.
Kings, queens, cardinals, bishops, priests, and a vast multitude of religious
and faithful throughout the world acclaim her as their heavenly patroness.
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